Chapter 23: Nursing Care of the
Newborn and Family Perry: Maternal
Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition
Questions
and Answers 100% Correct
1. An infant boy was born just a few minutes ago. The nurse is conducting the initial assessment.
Part of the assessment includes the Apgar score. The Apgar assessment is performed:
a. only if the newborn is in obvious distress.
b. once by the obstetrician, just after the birth.
c. at least twice, 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.
d. every 15 minutes during the newborn's first hour after birth.✔✔ANS: C
Apgar scoring is performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. Scoring may continue at 5-
minute intervals if the infant is in distress and requires resuscitation efforts
2. A new father wants to know what medication was put into his infant's eyes and why it is
needed. The nurse explains to the father that the purpose of the erythromycin ophthalmic
ointment is to:
a. destroy an infectious exudate caused by Staphylococcus that could make the infant blind.
b. prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial infection of the infant's eyes potentially acquired from the
birth canal.
c. prevent potentially harmful exudate from invading the tear ducts of the infant's eyes, leading to
dry eyes.
d. prevent the infant's eyelids from sticking together and help the infant see.✔✔ANS: B
The purpose of the erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is to prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial
infection of the infant's eyes potentially acquired from the birth canal. Prophylactic ophthalmic
ointment is instilled in the eyes of all neonates to prevent gonorrheal or chlamydial infection.
Prophylactic ophthalmic ointment is not instilled to prevent dry eyes. Prophylactic ophthalmic
ointment has no bearing on vision other than to protect against infection that may lead to vision
problems.
, 3. A 3.8-kg infant was delivered vaginally at 39 weeks after a 30-minute second stage. There was
a nuchal cord. After birth the infant is noted to have petechiae over the face and upper back.
Information given to the infant's parents should be based on the knowledge that petechiae:
a. are benign if they disappear within 48 hours of birth.
b. result from increased blood volume.
c. should always be further investigated.
d. usually occur with forceps delivery.✔✔ANS: A
Petechiae, or pinpoint hemorrhagic areas, acquired during birth may extend over the upper
portion of the trunk and face. These lesions are benign if they disappear within 2 days of birth
and no new lesions appear. Petechiae may result from decreased platelet formation. In this
situation the presence of petechiae is most likely a soft-tissue injury resulting from the nuchal
cord at birth. Unless they do not dissipate in 2 days, there is no reason to alarm the family.
Petechiae usually occur with a breech presentation vaginal birth.
4. A newborn is jaundiced and receiving phototherapy via ultraviolet bank lights. An appropriate
nursing intervention when caring for an infant with hyperbilirubinemia and receiving
phototherapy by this method would be to:
a. apply an oil-based lotion to the newborn's skin to prevent dying and cracking.
b. limit the newborn's intake of milk to prevent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
c. place eye shields over the newborn's closed eyes.
d. change the newborn's position every 4 hours.✔✔ANS: C
The infant's eyes must be protected by an opaque mask to prevent overexposure to the light. Eye
shields should cover the eyes completely but not occlude the nares. Lotions and ointments should
not be applied to the infant because they absorb heat, and this can cause burns. The lights
increase insensible water loss, placing the infant at risk for fluid loss and dehydration. Therefore,
it is important that the infant be adequately hydrated. The infant should be turned every 2 hours
to expose all body surfaces to the light.
5. Early this morning, an infant boy was circumcised using the PlastiBell method. The nurse tells
the mother that she and the infant can be discharged after:
a. the bleeding stops completely.
b. yellow exudate forms over the glans.
Newborn and Family Perry: Maternal
Child Nursing Care, 6th Edition
Questions
and Answers 100% Correct
1. An infant boy was born just a few minutes ago. The nurse is conducting the initial assessment.
Part of the assessment includes the Apgar score. The Apgar assessment is performed:
a. only if the newborn is in obvious distress.
b. once by the obstetrician, just after the birth.
c. at least twice, 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth.
d. every 15 minutes during the newborn's first hour after birth.✔✔ANS: C
Apgar scoring is performed at 1 minute and 5 minutes after birth. Scoring may continue at 5-
minute intervals if the infant is in distress and requires resuscitation efforts
2. A new father wants to know what medication was put into his infant's eyes and why it is
needed. The nurse explains to the father that the purpose of the erythromycin ophthalmic
ointment is to:
a. destroy an infectious exudate caused by Staphylococcus that could make the infant blind.
b. prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial infection of the infant's eyes potentially acquired from the
birth canal.
c. prevent potentially harmful exudate from invading the tear ducts of the infant's eyes, leading to
dry eyes.
d. prevent the infant's eyelids from sticking together and help the infant see.✔✔ANS: B
The purpose of the erythromycin ophthalmic ointment is to prevent gonorrheal and chlamydial
infection of the infant's eyes potentially acquired from the birth canal. Prophylactic ophthalmic
ointment is instilled in the eyes of all neonates to prevent gonorrheal or chlamydial infection.
Prophylactic ophthalmic ointment is not instilled to prevent dry eyes. Prophylactic ophthalmic
ointment has no bearing on vision other than to protect against infection that may lead to vision
problems.
, 3. A 3.8-kg infant was delivered vaginally at 39 weeks after a 30-minute second stage. There was
a nuchal cord. After birth the infant is noted to have petechiae over the face and upper back.
Information given to the infant's parents should be based on the knowledge that petechiae:
a. are benign if they disappear within 48 hours of birth.
b. result from increased blood volume.
c. should always be further investigated.
d. usually occur with forceps delivery.✔✔ANS: A
Petechiae, or pinpoint hemorrhagic areas, acquired during birth may extend over the upper
portion of the trunk and face. These lesions are benign if they disappear within 2 days of birth
and no new lesions appear. Petechiae may result from decreased platelet formation. In this
situation the presence of petechiae is most likely a soft-tissue injury resulting from the nuchal
cord at birth. Unless they do not dissipate in 2 days, there is no reason to alarm the family.
Petechiae usually occur with a breech presentation vaginal birth.
4. A newborn is jaundiced and receiving phototherapy via ultraviolet bank lights. An appropriate
nursing intervention when caring for an infant with hyperbilirubinemia and receiving
phototherapy by this method would be to:
a. apply an oil-based lotion to the newborn's skin to prevent dying and cracking.
b. limit the newborn's intake of milk to prevent nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
c. place eye shields over the newborn's closed eyes.
d. change the newborn's position every 4 hours.✔✔ANS: C
The infant's eyes must be protected by an opaque mask to prevent overexposure to the light. Eye
shields should cover the eyes completely but not occlude the nares. Lotions and ointments should
not be applied to the infant because they absorb heat, and this can cause burns. The lights
increase insensible water loss, placing the infant at risk for fluid loss and dehydration. Therefore,
it is important that the infant be adequately hydrated. The infant should be turned every 2 hours
to expose all body surfaces to the light.
5. Early this morning, an infant boy was circumcised using the PlastiBell method. The nurse tells
the mother that she and the infant can be discharged after:
a. the bleeding stops completely.
b. yellow exudate forms over the glans.
